MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 225:189-195 (2002)

Effects of competition between two introduced Caulerpa

ABSTRACT: Competitive interactions between 2 introduced algae, Caulerpa taxifolia and C. racemosa, were studied in 2 experiments. The first separately evaluated the interspecific and intraspecific effects on both species by manipulatingtheir abundance. The second investigated the fate of fragments of C. taxifolia transplanted into patches of C. racemosa,in contrast to those established on algal turfs. C. racemosa and C. taxifolia had similar temporaltrends in growth but reached different sizes. The overall increase in stolon length at higher densities for both species suggested that positive interactions are very important. However, there was a significant interspecific effect on C. taxifoliastolon length but no effect on C. racemosa. Furthermore, C. taxifolia fragments transplanted into C. racemosa patches showed clear signs of stress with respect to those transplanted into algal turfs: blades became blanched and eroded.Overall, the results of this study suggest that growth increases with density augmentation, therefore suggesting that invasive characteristics of the species may increase with the time of colonisation. Both species tend to spread faster at higherdensity. Overall, where both species co-occur, we predict that C. racemosa would be the favoured species as regards the outcome of competition.

KEYWORDS

Luigi Piazzi (Co-author)

  • Dipartimento dell¹Uomo e dell¹Ambiente, Università di Pisa, via A Volta 6, Pisa 56126, Italy

Giulia Ceccherelli (Corresponding Author)

  • Dipartimento di Botanica ed Ecologia Vegetale, Università di Sassari, via F Muroni 25, Sassari 07100, Italy
cecche@uniss.it